Tausug language
Tausug | |
---|---|
Bahasa Sūg بَهَسَ سُوگ | |
Native to | Philippines Malaysia Indonesia |
Region | — Spoken throughout the Sulu Archipelago and eastern Sabah — Also spoken in Zamboanga City and North Kalimantan (Indonesia) |
Ethnicity | Tausūg people Filipinos in Indonesia Filipinos in Malaysia |
Native speakers | 1.1 million (2000)[1] |
Austronesian
| |
Latin (Malay alphabet) Arabic (Jawi) | |
Official status | |
Official language in | Regional language in the Philippines |
Regulated by | Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino |
Language codes | |
ISO 639-3 | tsg |
Glottolog | taus1251 |
![]() Areas where Tausug is the majority language | |
Tausug (Tausug: Bahasa Sūg, Malay: Bahasa Suluk, Filipino: Wikang Tausug) is a regional language spoken in the province of Sulu in the Philippines, in the eastern area of the state of Sabah, Malaysia, and in North Kalimantan, Indonesia by the Tausūg people.
It is widely spoken in the Sulu Archipelago (Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi), Zamboanga Peninsula (Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Sur, and Zamboanga City), Southern Palawan, Malaysia (eastern Sabah) and Indonesia (North Kalimantan). Tausug and Chavacano are the only Philippine languages spoken on the island of Borneo.
The Tausug language is very closely related to the Surigaonon language of the provinces Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Sur, and to the Butuanon language of northeastern Mindanao.
Name of the language
The name of the language in Tausug is Bahasa Sūg, which means 'language of Sulu'. The word Tausūg is derived from two words "Tau" which means "person", and "sūg" which means "current", presumably referring to their economic livelihood depending on the strong currents of the Sulu Sea where they used to trans-navigate as fishermen, pearl divers and traders. The Sulu Sea has been use as the strategic trade route of the southern Philippines and other neighboring ASEAN nations, even up to the present time. As early as the 10th century it was believed that there was already flourishing trade route between Sulu with China and North Borneo. Basically the people in this area were known as "people of the current", which is the literal translation of "Tausūg".
Phonology
Letter | A | B | D | G | H | I | J | K | L | M |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Alip | bā' | dāl | gā' | hā' | ī | jīm | kāp | lām | mīm |
IPA | /a/ | /b/, /β/ | /d/ | /ɡ/, /ɣ/ | /h/ | /i/ | /dʒ/ | /k/ | /l/ | /m/ |
Letter | N | Ng | P | R | S | T | U | W | Y | ' |
Name | nūn | ngā' | pā' | rā' | sīn | tā' | ū | wāw | yā' | hamja |
IPA | /n/ | /ɳ/ | /p/ | /r/ | /s/ | /t/ | /u/ | /w/ | /j/ | /ʔ/ |
Consonants
Features: Gemination of all non-glottal consonants
- b [b] or [β] when between vowels[3]
- d [d]
- g [ɡ] or [ɣ] when between vowels[3]
- h [h]
- j [dʒ]
- k [k]
- l [l]
- m [m]
- n [n]
- ng [ɳ]
- p [p]
- r [r]
- s [s]
- t [t]
- w [w]
- y [j]
Vowels
Features: Vowel lengthening (e.g. bāy ‘house’). Stress: Nonphonemic stress on final syllable.
- a/ā [a] and [aː]
- i/ī [i] and [iː]
- u/ū [u] and [uː]
- ü [ɜ]
- The letters o and e are used in loan words and names from other languages.
Diphthongs: aw, uy, ay, iw[4]
Arabic script
The Tausūg language was previously written with the Arabic alphabet. The script used was inspired by the use of Jawi in writing the Malay language.
An example of the Arabic alphabet in writing the Tausūg language:
- Latin script – Wayruun tuhan malaingkan Allāh, hi Muhammad rasūl sin Allāh
- Arabic script – وَيْـرُٷنْ تُـهَـنْ مَـلَـيِـڠْـكَـن هَالله، هِـمُـحَـمَّـدْ ئِـڠ رَسُـولْ سِـڠ الله
- English translation - There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah
The Arabic script used to write the Tausug language differs in some aspects to the script used for the Arabic language and in the Jawi script used for Malay languages. One of the main differences is in the way that word-initial vowels are written.
In Arabic, /in/ is (إن); in Jawi (Malay), it is (ان). In Tausug, it is (ئِن). The Tausug Arabic script utilises the letter yā' with a hamza to represent a short vowel. If a kasra (ِ) is added, it becomes an 'i' sound. If a fatha (َ) is added, it becomes an 'a' sound. If a damma (ُ) is added, it becomes a 'u' sound.
Letters
Character | Isolated | Initial | Medial | Final | Name |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
ا | ﺍ | ﺎ | alip | ||
ب | ﺏ | ﺑ | ـﺒ | ـﺐ | bā' |
ت | ﺕ | ﺗ | ـﺘ | ـﺖ | tā' |
ج | ﺝ | ﺟ | ـﺠ | ـﺞ | jīm |
د | د | ـد | dāl | ||
ر | ﺭ | ـر | rā' | ||
س | ﺱ | ﺳ | ـﺴ | ـﺲ | sīn |
غ | ﻍ | ﻏ | ـﻐـ | ـﻎ | gayn |
ڠ | ڠ | ڠـ | ـڠـ | ـڠ | ngā' |
ف | ﻑ | ﻓ | ـﻔ | ـﻒ | pā' |
ک | ک | ﻛ | ـﻜ | ـک | kāp |
گ | گ | ﮔ | ـﮕـ | ـﮓ | gāp |
ل | ﻝ | ﻟ | ـﻠ | ـﻞ | lām |
م | ﻡ | ﻣ | ـﻤ | ـﻢ | mīm |
ن | ﻥ | ﻧ | ـﻨ | ﻦ | nūn |
و | ﻭ | ـو | wāw | ||
ه | ﻩ | ﻫ | ـﻬ | ﻪ | hā' |
ي | ﻱ | ﻳ | ـﻴـ | ﻲ | yā' |
ء | ء | ء | hamja | ||
أ | أ | ـأ | alip with hamja above | ||
ﺅ | ﺅ | ـﺆ | wāw with hamja above | ||
ئ | ئ | ئـ | ــئـ | ـئ | yā' with hamja above |
لا | لا | لا | ــلا | ــلا | lām alip |
Grammar
Pronouns
Personal
Absolutive | Ergative | Oblique | |
---|---|---|---|
1st person singular | aku | ku | kāku' |
1st person dual | kita | natu', ta | katu' |
2nd person singular | ikaw, kaw | mu | kaymu |
3rd person singular | siya | niya | kaniya |
1st person plural inclusive | kitaniyu | natu'niyu, taniyu | kātu'niyu, kātu'natu' |
1st person plural exclusive | kami | namu | kāmu' |
2nd person plural | kamu | niyu | kaniyu |
3rd person plural | sila | nila | kanila |
Demonstrative
Enclitic Particles
Existential
Interrogative words
English | Bahasa Sug |
---|---|
Who? | Hisiyu? |
What? | Unu? |
Where? | Hawnu? or Hariin? |
Why? | Mayta'? |
When? (future) | Ku'nu? |
When? (past) | Ka'nu? |
How? (process) | Biya'diin? |
How? (condition) | Maunu-unu? |
Examples:
English | Bahasa Sug |
---|---|
Who is your father? | Hisiyu in ama' mu? |
What is he doing? | Unu in hiyhinang niya? |
Where are you? | Hawnu kaw? or Hariin kaw? |
Why are you crying? | Mayta' kaw nagtangis? |
When are you arriving? (future) | Ku'nu kaw dumatung? |
When did you arrived? (past) | Ka'nu kaw dimatung? |
How did you know that? (process) | Biya'diin mu yan naingat? |
How is Hamid? (condition) | Maunu-unu na hi Hamid? |
Examples
English | Tausug Latin Script | Tausug Arabic Script |
---|---|---|
What is your name? | Unu in ngān mu? | اُنُ ئِـڠ ڠَـانـمُ؟ |
My name is Muhammad | In ngān ku Muhammad | ئِـڠ ڠَـانـكُ مُـحَـمَّـد |
How are you? | Maunu-unu nakaw? | مَـؤُنُ اُنُ نَـكَـو؟ |
I am good | Marayaw da isab | مَـرَيَـو دَ ئِـسَـب |
Where is Ahmad? | Hawnu hi Ahmad? | هَـونُ هِ أحـمَـد؟ |
He is in the house | Ha bāy siya | هَ بَـاي سِـيَ |
Thank you | Magsukul | مَـگـسُـكُـل |
Loan words
Many Tausug words derive from the Arabic language.
Some examples of Arabic words in Tausug are
Tausug Word | Meaning (Tausug) | Arabic Word | Pronunciation | Meaning (Arabic) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Adab | manners | أدب | adab | manners |
Ahirat | Hereafter | آخرة | ākhirah | hereafter |
Ajayb | amazing | عجيب | 'ajīb | amazing |
Akkal | intelligence | عقل | 'Aql | intellect |
Alam | universe | عالم | 'ālam | world |
Allāh | God | الله | Allāh | God |
Amānat | message | أمانة | amānah | trust |
Ammal | use | عمل | 'amal | to make |
Awal | origin | أوّل | awwal | first |
Awliya | ascetic | أولياء | awliyā' | ascetics |
Ayat | verse | آية | āyah | verse |
Ayb | shame | عيب | 'ayb | shame |
Barawi | Desert robber | بدوي | badawī | bedouin |
Batāl | unclean | باطل | bātil | void |
Bilāl | Muezzin/caller to prayer | بلال | Bilāl | Bilal ibn Rabah |
Daawa | excuse/alibi | دعوة | da'wah | invitation |
Duhul | extremity | دخول | dukhūl | entrance |
Daira | city | دائرة | dā'irah | area |
Dayyus | cuckold | ديّوث | dayyūth | cuckold |
Dunya | earth | دنيا | dunyā | world |
Duwaa | prayer | دعاء | du'ā | prayer/supplication |
Habal | news | خبر | khabar | news |
Hadas | impurity | حدث | hadath | impurity |
Hakīka | birth ritual | عقيقة | aqīqah | birth ritual |
Hakīkat | truth | حقيقة | haqīqah | truth |
Hatīb | speaker | خطيب | khatīb | speaker |
Hawa | Eve | حواء | Hawā' | Eve |
Hidāyat | announcement | هداية | hidāyah | guidance |
Hikmat | wisdom | حكمة | hikmah | wisdom |
Hukum | judge | حكم | hukm | ruling |
Humus | alms | خمس | khums | fifth |
Hutba' | sermon | خطبة | khutbah | sermon |
Hurup | sound of a letter | حروف | hurūf | letters |
Ibilīs | demon | إبليس | Iblīs | devil |
Ihilās | sincerity | إخلاص | ikhlās | sincerity |
Ijin | blessing | إذن | idhn | permission |
Ilmu' | knowledge | علم | 'ilm | knowledge |
Imān | forbearingness | إيمان | īmān | faith |
Intiha' | end | إنتهى | intihā | end |
Irādat | determination | إرادة | irādah | determination |
Islām | Islam | إسلام | Islām | Islam |
Istigapar | to beg pardon | إستغفار | istighfār | to beg pardon |
Instinja | pure | إستنجاء | istinjā' | to clean one's self |
Jabūr | Psalms | زبور | zabūr | Psalms |
Jāhil | foolish | جاهل | jāhil | ignorant |
Jakāt | tithe | زكاة | zakāh | tithe |
Jamāa | congregation | جماعة | jamā'ah | congregation |
Jamān | clock | زمان | zamān | time |
Janāja | bier | جنازة | janāzah | funeral |
Jāt | appearance | ذات | dhāt | self |
Jaytūn | olive | زيتون | zaytūn | olive |
Jin | spirit | جنّ | jinn | demon |
Jinā | adultery | زنا | zinā | adultery |
Juba | garment | جبّة | jubbah | garment |
Jubul | anus | دبر | dubr | anus |
Junub | pollution | جنوب | junūb | dirty |
Jurriyat | lineage | ذرية | dhurriyyah | offspring |
Kahawa | coffee | قهوة | qahwah | coffee |
Kāpil | disbeliever | كافر | kāfir | disbeliever |
Karāmat | miracle | كرامة | karāmah | miracle |
Kawwāt | power | قوّة | quwwah | force |
Kubul | grave | قبور | qubūr | graves |
Kudarat | Power of God | قدرة | qudrah | ability |
Kulbān | sacrifice | قربان | qurbān | sacrifice |
Kuppiya' | male head covering | كوفيّة | kūffiyah | kefiyyeh |
Kupul | disbelief | كفز | kufr | disbelief |
Lidjiki' | blessing | رزق | rizq | sustenance |
Maana | meaning | معنة | ma'nah | meaning |
Magrib | sunset | مغرب | maghrib | sunset |
Magsukul | Thanks | شكر | shukr | thanks |
Mahluk | human | مخلوق | maklūq | created |
Maksud | purpose | مقصود | maqsūd | intended |
Makbul | fulfilled | مقبول | maqbūl | accepted |
Malak | Beautiful | ملك | malak | Angel |
Maruhum | deceased | مرحوم | marhūm | deceased |
Masrik | east | مشرق | mashriq | east |
Matakaddam | parable | متقدّم | mutaqaddam | preceding |
Mayat | corpse | ميت | mayt | dead |
Mujijat | mystery | معجزة | mu'jizah | miracle |
Mulid | pupil | مريد | murīd | pupil |
Munapik | hypocrite | منافق | munāfiq | hypocrite |
Murtad | apostate | مرتد | murtad | apostate |
Muskil | uncommon | مشكل | mushkil | problem |
Mustahak | lawful owner | مستحقّ | mustahaqq | deserving |
Mustajab | occurred | مستجاب | mustajāb | answered |
Muwallam | scholar | معلّم | mu'allim | teacher |
Nabī | prophet | نبي | nabī | prophet |
Najal | promise | نذر | nadhar | vow/promise |
Najjis | filth | ناجس | nājis | filthy |
Napas | breath | نفس | nafas | breathe |
Napsu | desire | نفس | nafs | ego/desire |
Nasihat | advice | نصيحة | nasīhah | advice |
Paham | familiarity | فهم | fahm | understanding |
Pardu' | legislation | فرض | fard | compulsory |
Piil | action | فعل | fi'l | action |
Pikil | think | فكر | fikr | thought |
Pir'awn | Pharaoh | فرعون | fir'awn | Pharaoh |
Rahmat | blessing | رحمة | rahmah | mercy |
Rasūl | messenger | رسول | rasūl | messenger |
Ruku' | bow | ركوع | rukū' | bowing |
Rukun | precept | ركن | rukn | pillar |
Sabab | because | سبب | sabab | reason/cause |
Sahabat | follower | صحابة | sahābah | companions |
Saytān | Satan | شيطان | shaytān | Satan |
Sual | discussion | سؤال | su'āl | question |
Subu | dawn | صبح | subh | dawn |
Sunnat | female circumcision | سنّة | sunnah | tradition/sunnah |
Takabbul | arrogant | تكبّر | takabbur | arrogance |
Takwīm | calendar | تقويم | taqwīm | calendar |
Tallak | divorce | طلاق | talāq | divorce |
Tarasul | Tausug poem | تراسل | tarāsul | correspondence |
Tasbi | prayer beads | تسبيح | tasbīh | praise |
Ummul | age | عمر | 'amr | age |
Wajib | compulsory | واجب | wājib | compulsory |
Wakap | pause | وقف | waqf | pause |
Waktu | time | وقت | waqt | time |
Tausug words derived from Sanskrit
Tausug Word | Meaning (Tausug) | Sanskrit Word | Pronunciation | Meaning (Sanskrit) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Guru | teacher | गुरु | guru | teacher |
Naga | dragon | नाग | nāga | serpent |
Āgama | religion | आगम | āgama | religion |
Lahu' | eclipse | राहु | rāhu | eclipse |
Lupa | appearance | रूप | rūpa | appearance |
Dukka | grieve | दुःख | duḥkha | suffering |
Sutla' | silk | सूत्र | sūtra | to sew/thread |
Numbers
Tausug | Cebuano | Malay | Kadazan-Dusun | Javanese |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 - Isa (Hambook) | usa | satu | iso | siji |
2 - Duwa | duha | dua | duo | loro |
3 - Tū | tulo | tiga | tolu | telu |
4 - Upat | upat | empat | apat | papat |
5 - Lima | lima | lima | limo | limo |
6 - Unum | unom | enam | onom | enem |
7 - Pitu | pito | tujuh | turu | pitu |
8 - Walu | walo | delapan | walu | wolu |
9 - Siyam | siyam | sembilan | siam | songo |
10 - Hangpu' | napu'o | sepuluh | hopod | sepuloh |
Tausug | Cebuano | Malay |
---|---|---|
11 - Hangpuh tag isa | napulo'g usa | sebelas |
20 - Kawha'an | kawhaan | dua puluh |
30 - Katlu'an | katloan | tiga puluh |
40 - Ka'patan | kap'atan | empat puluh |
50 - Kay'man | kalim'an | lima puluh |
60 - Ka'numan | kanuman | enam puluh |
70 - Kapituwan | kapitoan | tujuh puluh |
80 - Kawaluhan | kawalohan | delapan puluh |
90 - Kasiyaman | kasiyaman | sembilan puluh |
100 - Hanggattus | usa ka gatus | se ratus |
1,000 - Ha'ngibu | usa ka libo | se ribu |
See also
- Languages of the Philippines
- Bikol
- Cebuano
- Chavacano
- Hiligaynon
- Kapampangan
- Ilocano
- Pangasinan
- Visayan languages
- Waray-Waray
External links
- Publications in Tausūg and other Philippine languages
- Tausug Language by Dr. Carl G. Rubino
- Bansa.org Tausug Dictionary
- Tausug English Glossary Search for common Tausug Words
- Tausug 101 by Anak Iluh
References
- ^ Tausug at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
- ^ see Tan, Evangeline K. (1967). "The phonology of Tausug: a descriptive analysis". open.library.ubc.ca. M.A.Thesis, University of British Columbia. p. 16.
- ^ a b Jawali, Hamsali S. 2006. Ta’u-sug–English–Tagalog Dictionary. National Bookstore: Mandaluyong.
- ^ As in issiw, variant of hisiyu, 'who.'
- ^ http://www.tausug101.blogspot.com/2012/07/bonus-lesson-1-asking-questions.html
- Sundita, Christopher Allen (2002). In Bahasa Sug: An Introduction to Tausug. Lobel & Tria Partnership, Co. ISBN 971-92226-6-2.